Hiding the Roller Shade Roll

Q: Is there a way to hide the roll on roller shades? I like the look of roller shades but am not too crazy about the exposed rolling system. Any ideas?

A: Yes! There are roller cassettes designed just for this purpose. Most people looking to install roller shades like the low-profile design and want to maintain that look throughout their window decorations. Roller shade cassettes are simple and give a sleek contemporary way to hide the roll at the top of your window. They also come in all kinds of colors that allows you to match either your trim or the roller shade itself. Both Hunter Douglas and YourBlinds carry low-profile roller shade cassettes.

If you want something less modern, you might also want to consider a conventional valence. Roller shades work great with existing drapes just by hiding the roll under a matching valence. You won't even know it's there!

Low Profile Shades for Drapes

Q: I'm not really looking to change the look of my living room, but I do need a little more control over sunlight. I currently have drapes and don't want to take them down. Is there anything I can use that would work with my existing window treatments?

A: Yes! In fact, cellular shades and roller shades work great with drapes. Both of these shade types are low-profile and, when installed alone, add elegant simplicity to any room. The unique linear design also makes them an ideal choice for pairing with existing window treatments. Their basic look and versatile function make them easy to hide behind valences, but also easy to coordinate with your décor.

When choosing between cellular and roller shades, you may want to consider function. Both come in light filtering and room darkening styles to maximize your control over incoming natural light, but cellular shades offer the benefit of insulation. By trapping cells of air between the window and your room, cellular shades help you save energy by preventing unnecessary heat loss. Roller shades, on the other hand, are very thin and take up minimal space when rolled up.

Both come in lots of colors and textures – perfect for pairing with any decorations!

Control Options for Roller Shades

Q: I'm looking to install roller shades in my bedroom. Can you tell me the different types of control options available on these types of shades?

A: Absolutely. Roller shades come in cordless and spring lift systems, cordloop controls, and motorized or electronic control systems. Cordless, or spring lift systems use a retractable feature that eliminates all cords from the system. It's easy to use, too. Just pull down the shade with your hand (and you can even get a decorative pull to make it even more unique!) and it stays in place. Gently pull again and the roller shade rolls back onto the roll.

Cordloop controls, on the other hand, allow you to raise and lower your shades using a continuous loop of cord. The constant length of cord is great for control and safety since there are no long strings or cords for small hands, or small pets, to play with.

Better yet, go motorized! Roller shades, like lots of other window shades and blinds, come with a remote control option. This way you can raise and lower your shades from the comfort of your bed. What better way to control your bedroom light than to relax and press a button!

Styles of Motorized Shades

Q: I recently bought a house with huge windows in the family room and dining areas and I've been looking at getting blinds with remote controls. What shade and blind styles come with a motorized option?

A: Cellular shades are probably the most popular style of motorized shades, but remote control options are also available in wood blinds, sheer shades, roller shades, and faux wood blinds. Cellular shades are great because they provide a sleek, low-profile design with insulating qualities. They also come in a wide range of colors, cell sizes, and cell counts that match any décor.

Other contemporary alternatives include sheer shades and roller shades. Sheer shades create a soft look and a perfect for windows that get a lot of direct sunlight. The sheer qualities help diffuse direct sun while the opaque slats can block harsh rays. Roller shades can also give you some flexibility on lighting and their simple, flat nature makes them blend into any room.

If you're looking for something more traditional, however, consider wood or faux wood shades. Both of these window shades come in motorized forms so you get the look of shutters without the hassle of cords.

Congratulations on the house!

Trims and Edges for Roller Shades

Q: I'm planning on putting roller shades in my condo but wanted to dress them up a bit. Can you tell me a little more about trim options?

A: Of course! While you can dress up roller shades by choosing different fabric options, you can also choose different trims and shapes for the bottom edge. Most roller shades come standard with a flat (horizon) hem but Hunter Douglas lets you spruce up your roller shades by offering seven other hem styles: Horizon with trim, half moon, scallops and shells, breakers, wave, broken scallop and seagull. Each of these hem styles also comes with trim options that resemble the decorative trims on expensive curtains or pillows.

If you want a more modern design, I'd recommend the more contemporary decorative tape trims. These follow the same horizontal style as traditional roller shades but have nice clean lines that fit a more modern style. They look great on big windows and work really well in almost any space. Hunter Douglas does a great job of giving you lots of options for colors, fabrics, and light filtering, too!

Shades with Cordlesss Controls

Q: I have three young children and just redecorated their bedrooms. I was hoping to get some sort of shade or blind with cordless controls for safety. What styles are available with this option?

A: That's a great idea to put cordless shades in your kids' rooms since they're designed for easy control and safety. Cellular blinds, wood blinds, and roller shades all have cordless options available. Cellular blinds (also known as honeycomb shades) are soft to the eye and soft to the touch and come in all kinds of light filtering and room darkening options. Their pockets of air also make them great for insulation.

The cordless function of cellular blinds is the same on wood blinds. All you have to do is push up or pull down on the bottom rail to lift or lower the blinds. Not only is this very safe and functional, it also gives the windows a clean cord-free look!

I'm personally a big fan of roller shades for kids' rooms, though. Not only are roller shades flat and soft, most are incredibly durable. You can also dress them up with decorative trim! The cordless controls on these are composed of a spring lift system. It's easy to control and still very safe.

Dressing Up Roller Shades

Q: I'd like to put some roller shades in my home, but I'm afraid they'd look a little plain. I like the straight edge, but don't necessarily like tassels or fancy trim. Is there any other way to dress them up?

A: Yes! Hunter Douglas actually gives you more contemporary straight-edged trim options that look fantastic. Roller shades are nice because you can dress them down and blend them in with your décor or give them flair with trim and fabric options to dress them up. Traditional roller shade trim options include scalloped or waved edges, decorative pulls, and fancy trims like lace and tassels. These are great, but if your looking for something more sleek or modern, you'll want to look at the options under Hunter Douglas.

Hunter Douglas has tape trims and even faux wood slat trims to give just a little hint of fashion to your roller shades. The designer tape trims are nice because they're low-profile and give just enough pizazz to your shades to accent your room. HD makes three styles of these: Herringbone, Casual Stripe, and Casual Solid. If you're looking for something with a little more weight, faux wood slats are great, too, but I personally love the look of the tapes.

Valences for Roller Shades

Q: I've decided to purchase roller shades for my windows (they're shallow) but I really want a more traditional look so I'm wondering if there are valence options for these kinds of shades.

A: Actually, Hunter Douglas has cassette roll covers that give roller shades a much more finished look. These cassette covers are designed to hide the hardware (the roll) at the top of the window and come in the same colors as their roller shades. They're curved and low-profile, meaning you can use them as valences if you're looking for a sleek design. To be perfectly honest, they're actually really attractive and perfect to give your shades a seamless look.

Of course, you can always combine the cassette roll cover with a traditional valence like the one in the photo. The cassette cover gives you a little more flexibility in choosing what kind of valence you want to install. By covering the roll with a low-profile cassette cover, you hide the hardware with something that blends with the shade. That way you can put up a short, translucent, or decorative valence without worrying about hiding the roll!

Color Options for Cellular Shades - Two Sided

Q: Hi, I'm looking at buying cellular shades and saw that some have options for different colors on the room side versus the outside. What does that mean and what are my options?

A: Since cellular shades are created by fusing layers of fabric together to create pockets of air to insulate your window, it gives manufacturers the ability to use different color fabrics on the inside and outside of the shade. For example, you might want blue cellular shades to match your rug but white to match the trim on your front porch. With double-sided shades, you get to have both!

Cellular shades are one of the few window treatments that come with this option and I think it's a great way to get the look you want both on the inside and outside of your home. Most times people order standard cellular shades that have white towards the outside and a decorative color on the inside. The white also helps reflect sunlight and improves the insulation qualities of the blinds and creates a clean exterior look.

Trim Options Available on Roller Shades

Q: I'm looking into getting roller shades for my apartment but I'm not really into the modern/contemporary styles. What kinds of options do I have to go with a more traditional style?

A: Not only do roller shades come in classic fabrics, they're also available with different trim styles, too! Since it sounds like you're looking for softer lines and trims, you might want to check out the different shapes and pull tag styles that come with roller shades.

Believe it or not, you have tons of options. Tassels, ropes, and embroidery help incorporate roller shades into a more traditional room and can soften the straight lines of these shades. You can even go one step further and request a different shape for the bottom of your blind. There's conventional scalloped edges, slightly more modern waves, or even combinations of different designs. Pair a neat edge or trim with a decorative tassel or trinket pull and you have a completely different look. Honestly, with all the options available, the possibilities are almost endless!

Fabric Options Available on Roller Shades

Q: I wanted to know what fabric style options I have for roller shades. I like the minimalist style but don't like the traditional look of vinyl. What else is out there?

A: Roller shades have come a long way since their vinyl heritage and you can find them in all kinds of colors, patterns and textures. Hunter Douglas carries a lot of beautiful style and subtle prints that come in both light filtering and room darkening styles. These soft textures are great for bedrooms and living spaces and are perfect for picture windows and contemporary styles.

Roller shades really have a unique, low-profile design with a small footprint that maximizes window space. With all the different fabric options available, you're bound to find the perfect one!

Keep in mind, thought, that new vinyl shades aren't what they used to be. While vinyl roller shades are still durable and easy to clean, they're available in softer colors and textures that can accent any room. (And are perfect for high-traffic areas!)